Elsewhere and "Where?"

A few weeks ago the girls and I were in Greensboro and visited a "living museum" called Elsewhere. The museum used to be a thrift store and has since been turned into a living art project full of past treasures and junk made into evolving works of art. It's very american of me, I'm sure, but I was really impressed by the huge bin of McDonald's Toys! *LOL*

Last weekend Mike and I headed out to Hanging Rock State Park to find a rumored "secret lake" that's not on any maps of the park. We found it. In the search, we also spotted some wildlife and a few muscles we had forgotten we had!

Nosy lizard

White tail deer- he wasn't shy in the least 

The secret dam and lake was beautiful

 
The garden is coming along well. I'm taking pictures to make a book for Mike's Dad for his birthday.

Jakey's  birthday picture HAPPY SEVEN!!

My daughter Rebekah and her special friend. 

Soak up the sun---and SHINE! :) 

Stories: What's Your Point?

I heard a motivational speaker a few weeks ago. He was the first motivational speaker that REALLY inspired me without addressing his audience in a condescending tone. I always leave those lectures feeling guilty- like a dieter caught licking from their child's ice cream cone. *ahem* (not that I would know anything about how that feels!)
The speaker was Dennis Miller and he was speaking about story telling. 
As a photographer, this really piqued my interest, because all photography (no matter the subject) is telling a story....but, he wasn't talking about photography- he was speaking about LIFE. 
He said that all GOOD "Stories" have the following basic similarities: Lead Character, Protagonist, Ambition, Conflict & Resolution. 


Simple enough. 


All lives are "Stories". And you ARE the lead character- living out a narrative of angst, conflict and victories against a backdrop of everyday life....everyday struggles....but, in the end, after it all boils down to a headstone and a plot of dirt----is the story worth retelling? Is there enough inspiring drama there to be interesting? Every life has conflict.....but does your story have ambition AND resolution? And if not- what are you doing to properly WRITE your story?


The simplicity of his message was so phenomenally powerful. 


As a Christian and a Decent Human Being...I want my story to bleed into other peoples story...I want the chapters to overlap, the tapestry of kindness, love and charity to interweave my story with others....to be the kind soul that spurs their narrative along to a "Happily Ever After". 


One of the challenges that Dennis gave the audience was to make an effort to plot our story- and not just "accept" the narrative but actually DIRECTING it. ( Not in a "wipe God out of the story" kind of way) Add value to your actions, direction or journey in a way that you start living with purpose- begin steering your life in the direction that you want your story to take. Make TODAY matter in the long run.


Seems simple- but it's not. I have thought about this for several weeks now, and to live each day in such a way that it has PURPOSE that expands to the next day (outside of daily living ie: paying utilities so that you can run the dishwasher tomorrow...or emptying the dishwasher tonight so you don't have to do it tomorrow)....To live with a PURPOSE which will spill-out and change someone else's life for a greater purpose and so on and so on....that's TOUGH.  It's not enough to just "shine"...you may not just need to light up another persons day, but put some elbow grease into it and lend a hand...carry them...be there. Make your "story" have a POINT. A reason to be shared to generations after you. 

Land That I Love

I have said this before- growing up- patriotism was taught, lived and bequeathed. Honestly, if you had to ask me (as a child) who was the MOST like Jesus....my answer would have been Ronald Reagan. I was quite sure he was able to walk on water- if the need arose. 

 Ronald Reagan was the epitome of Americanism in my grandmother's eyes....he came from nothing and became a leader of the free world and....he was a cowboy. He was Jesus and John Wayne personified in one body. Truly.  At least, that's how it seemed.

                                  

   

Anyhow, a thread of patriotism  runs in my blood as richly as caffeine and is a life line. I can succumb to tears at the sight of a military man in fatigues, a flag on a headstone, the reading of "We the People", or the faintest whisper of Taps. I have an unquenchable appetite for American History especially the Wild West, Oregon Trail, Gold Rush and founding of California. At one time I was convinced that I was going to name my first born Wyatt....and was going to call him Wyatt Twerp.

My love for this country only grows. My heart will always swell with pride and love when hearing The Star Spangled Banner. I will always be proud of the Red, White and Blue...from sea to shining sea, the land of the brave and the home of the free.



One of my favorite Reagan quotes: "The poet called Miss Liberty's torch 'the lamp beside the golden door.' Well, that was the entrance to America, and it still is. And now you really know why we're here tonight. The glistening hope of that lamp is still ours. Every promise, every opportunity, is still golden in this land. And through that golden door our children can walk into tomorrow with the knowledge that no one can be denied the promise that is America. Her heart is full; her torch is still golden, her future bright. She has arms big enough to comfort and strong enough to support, for the strength in her arms is the strength of her people. She will carry on in the '80s unafraid, unashamed, and unsurpassed. In this springtime of hope, some lights seem eternal; America's is."

 Keep shinin' America,

Cass

Purposeful Endowment

I'm supposed to be packing and making (literally) last minute arrangements for my Nashville trip....but I was so inspired the other day by a radio program on NPR that I wanted to share what I heard and the mental rabbit trails that the program lead me down.  I believe in giving credit where it's due- but I have no idea what show I was listening to. The guest speaker was talking about linguistics and vocabulary and the art of teaching your children. Obviously, children are not born with eloquent (or any) vocabulary and learn it by hearing words used in context. Children are not limited. The guest host was instructing parents not to "dummy down" your conversation with your children. Children  will pick up the meanings of  words and will emulate the words into their own conversations. Sometimes, whether we like it or not. 
I'm reminded of my younger cousin who thought the front door was a "d*mn door"...and many times he'd say something like, "Mommy! Someone's knocking at the d*mn door!" Obviously, he was only repeating what he had heard and was trying to use the word in it's correct context, as was exemplified by his parents. They hear. They process. They repeat.


That's what learning is.

learn·ing/ˈlərniNG/

Noun:

The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or study, or by being taught. Knowledge acquired in this way.

So, this lead me to think back to my own childhood. Realizing that many of the things I do and the way I do them were absorbed in an osmosis sort of way. Even the mundane things.( Ie: only washing dishes on the right side of the sink, rinsing in the left and drying to the far left.) My mother doesn't eat red meat. Never has. Guess what, neither do I. I'm repulsed by it, usually. But, I asked myself, am I really? Is it that I REALLY don't like it- or have I been trained not to like it by example? Then, my mind goes down another bunny trail, my Father loved steaks and meat and ate them heartily. So,  why is it that I learned from the negative reaction towards it than the positive? No one ever said "THOU SHALT NOT"  wash on the left hand side of the sink, nor did my mother ever tell me to not eat a steak...it was taught by EXAMPLE. Without meaning to instruct a concept, I learned it...and have passed it on. My oldest daughter would rather eat a plate of hamburger toppings than the actual burger.

So, beyond vocabulary....beyond dish washing and meat eating, and all the other peculiar traits that I've adopted over the years...I have to wonder....WHAT about LOVE, COMPASSION, EMPATHY?

Am I teaching these "gifts"? Am I passing on a legacy to my children- do I demonstrate how to care for others? Do I give cheerfully? Will my children grow into adults who give without expecting anything in return? Will they exercise the art of empathy instead of judgement? Love instead of jury? Where have I unwittingly taught them to perceive something negatively? (by not being a cheerful giver, hypocritically being a reluctant servant, a huffy friend, giving a sharp answer to a wounded heart etc, etc....)

For the past week or so, these thoughts have rattled around in the mind and have taken root in my heart. Last night I watched my children interact with others at VBS through new eyes. I was watching my kiddos, but looking past  them, for signs of MYSELF in smaller, younger bodies. Looking for familiar traits mirrored back at me from across the church gymnasium. Traits that I haven't meant to instill. Prejudices that I didn't realize were contagious. Watching yourself in the next generation can be a scary realization, gladly there were some attributes that I was pleased to recognize from these little mirrors of mine. :)

I hope this post wasn't a downer to anyone. In all actuality, it's quite encouraging to me that I can begin anew- each day- as a fresh example. I will endeavor to teach by exemplifying positive attributes, living life to the fullest, embracing, engaging positive influences and empowering (through encouragement)  others in their personal endeavors, by loving unconditionally....and above all keep shinin' this little light of mine. :)


Keep Shining On ~   Cass

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." John W. Whitehead, founder, Rutherford Institute

Did You Hear About Mary Jones?

Did you hear about Mary Jones? She was quite the woman! She was married to a wonderful man and had three children.  She was the perfect example of a "room mother" at her children's schools....and the Cheerleader Coach of one of her kids teams. She was also on the PTA. On Tuesday nights she volunteered at the library as a member of the "Friends of the Library" club and on Thursdays she hosted the ladies book club; on the weekends she taxied her kids to CubScouts and Glee Club...and then raced home and  hosted the "Christian Singles Club" in her home. On Sunday Mornings she brought  Sunday School snack and helped in the nursery.

The community LOVED HER! They knew that Mary Jones was the lady to go to for anything that needed done. In fact she raised more money than ANYONE to put in new turf at the Country Club!!!

One day, Mary got sick. She was sent tons of flowers from various organizations, associations, civic clubs and church groups that she was members of. The cards were signed by people that her family could vaguely place names they'd heard with faces they'd rarely or had never seen. Mary died at home surrounded by her children and loving husband.  After much thought and consideration by her family Mary Jone's epitaph read this:

HERE LIES MARY JONES. SHE WAS CLUBBED TO DEATH.

 Keep it real. Keep your priorities straight...and above all: HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE LADIES OUT THERE!!! :)

SHINE!!! <3
Picture credit: FLICKR by Bryan Burke

Gardening By Numbers.....

It's kinda like "Paint by Numbers"...but not really....It's more like, "One, Two--skip a few-- ninety nine- One hundred!"

ONE: Trailer to haul tractor

TWO: Peeps in truck to pick up the tractor

THREE: Really hick country songs on radio before Cass changes the station ;)

FOUR: Eyes locked on each other in a defiant stare down of wills

FIVE: Feet down the road before Boyscout changes the station back

(skip a few)

 

 SEVENTEEN: Mile drive to pick up the tractor at the farm

 THIRTY THREE: Yards of gravel driveway to the farm and shed

(where the tractor lives) Isn't it pretty?

(Sedum blooms at sunset)

EightySeven: foot wide garden

Onehundred: Degrees picking 4,789 Lima beans *lol*

Circularly Things That Turn....

What are these things called? Because, apparently, I have a fetish for these little spigot-esque handle thingys....which is news to me. I have lots of obcessions and interests, but who knew that this was one of them? 

Mr. Boyscout had heard tell of a rather important local landmark being demolished- and felt it was our patriotic duty to crawl between locked gates and under No Trespassing signs to chronicle the things that are- which will soon be the "things that were".
I have over 200 photos of this location- so plan on seeing more.....but today I'm just sharing these circularly things that turned.

This is the bottom side of a fire escape.... 

A THIS SIDE UP view of the staircase

 Worthy of a Pulitzer price? Nah....but I do like the contrast of the blue
against the yellow

Tons of handles, dials and knobs in this place!

The turbines. There were originally 7 or 8- but only two remain. These large wheels were attached to a conveyor system of belts that kept the plants machinery cool by a man made lake used to pump water through the facility. This is on the bottom level of a six story building. Notice the natural lighting at the rear of the picture? That's right.....enough sun coming through SIX STORIES of FLOORS into the basement. At one time this facility was the bustling den of 10,800 employees, a railroad house and several "Sister Plants" within a few mile radius.

More pipes with wheels and handles in the separate quarters for the railcars and engineers.....

It's amazing to walk through this dusty, desolate and abandoned empire of industrialism. Half of our town is named after the family that owned this facility. The labor, the lives the relationships and the town that was built within the confines of this mega-structure at one time was the backbone of our community.....and now, it's awaiting demolition. Although I have no personal ties to this family or business it was hard not to feel a pang of loss or melancholy over what was- but will never be again. The deafening silence screamed through the  brick skeleton that once was the hub of life for our town.
There is a season for everything...a time to plant, a time to sow---a time to give and a time to receive....a time to build and a time to tear down...the words of this scripture rang true on this Sunday afternoon.

It wasn't difficult to walk through the halls of this place and picture the industrial age in full swing- the ladies at the desks, the men in the offices in derbies and waxed mustaches, the shrill sound of a train pulling in to station, squeaky cart wheels loaded with textiles being pushed from one work bench to the other, the jovial calls of fellow workers one to another, the hissing of steam....the clacking of typewriters. It was as if so many years of these activities had buried the scent and sounds into the old walls...the building still breathed of bustling activities- the shadows still held the secrets of cigarette break whispers and employee gossip....The building had the personality of an old lady with a tired smile, but shimmering eyes. This old building still knew its worth, still held its head high with proud memories. She knows that it had a good, long, prosperous life and was content knowing she was going the way of all life... back to the dust and ashes with the knowledge and pride of a life well lived.

There's more of this story (and pictures) to come. I had culled over 200 pictures from this shoot....and am itching to get more uploaded. ;)

Shine all your light...live your life to the fullest- and remember it's better to be kind than right.

Shine Upward! Cass